So I am into the second official week of my assignment and its been another busy day, but more about that later.
This weekend was time to catch up with some sleep and get a little me time. It was nice having the time back in the UK but I really didn’t stand still, and having Wednesday off really just allowed me to avoid the jet lag and sort the apartment out.
So Saturday after a nice lay in (10:30). I had a spot of breakfast and watched a movie before heading to the office to check on some work that was being done. It was quick 30 minute visit, and then I headed to one of the many malls to meet up with Laurence and get some shopping. We both needed different things so we went our separate ways agreeing to met up at my apartment later so Laurence could check out the Apple TV.
There are malls everywhere in Gurgaon, and one of the most popular past times on a saturday in India is to shop. However Gurgaon is one large building site and
everywhere you look they are building more apartments or malls. Everything is done by hand, you will very rarely see a wheel barrow let alone a JCB. The only time you see any real heavy plant is on the major office blocks or roads, which are usually backed by foreign investors. The throng of shoppers also brings out the beggars, but there are generally just ignored unless they get in the way of a police man or security guard. [More Photo's]
Laurence and I met up a couple of hours later and spent an hour messing around with the Apple TV, before agreeing to meet up for Chinese later that evening, after Laurence had finished at the gym.
Laurence’s driver Naveen turned up at 18:00 (We have arranged to share drivers at the weekend if we are hanging out) and took me to the Chinese / Japanese restaurant where Laurence was waiting. We ordered some beers and some starters and then started chatting to the waiter and supervisor and asked them for recommendations. They immediately went off to find the chef who we were then introduced to. The chef after exchanging pleasantries described the ingredients he had, there origin, and suggested a chicken based course cooked in a variety of spices, but not too hot. We both enjoyed the meal and after 6 beers, two bottle of water, two starters and a main course for two we were happy to pay the £13 it cost and even left a tip. We then returned to my apartment to drink the beer I had left in the fridge before it went out of date.
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Sunday was another lay in and a chilled out morning. I went out for a slow walk around Essel Towers and up to the malls after lunch. I leant Laurence my driver so he could go to the gym while I chilled out and called Katrina. We had agreed to meet up again that evening so I could get some information on gym membership, which I did, and then went for dinner at Harries (A revolving restaurant). Once again the food was good, but not as good at the previous evening and a little more expensive. After dinner, about 21:00 we headed home.
Once back in the apartment I wasn’t particularly tired so I sat and started to watch a movie, but by 22:30 I was ready for bed.
So this morning my driver picked me up at 08:30 and we headed for the office. The work that was going on over the weekend had all been completed (Setting up a new NOC) and three new NOC (Network Operations Center) staff had started there induction courses. I had a full day of meetings, including one with the UK division of Price Waterhouse Coppers who are handling my UK tax return, which turns out to be a lot simpler than I thought it was going to be. I am however scheduled for a meeting with the Indian division tomorrow to confirm my Indian tax status which should be interesting to say the least.
Tonight I made myself cheese on toast, after eating midday at work, and have now settled down for a quiet evening. Not sure yet if it’s a TV or book night. I need to check what’s on. Tomorrow we kick off some more training and I have agreed to meet up with the instructor and show him around a little and grab a beer.
